# Coolant replacement in a Camry? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 28, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998 "2011-02-28T16:29:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sam1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@sam1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sam1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/1 "2011-02-28T16:29:20Z")
I drive 2005 Camry. Do you really need to use coolant sold by Toyota? Toyota sell 2 types of Coolant. Both are 1 gallon and same price. One is 100% coolant and other is already 50/50 diluted coolant. They say according to borochure I should use 50/40 coolant. It takes about 2 gallon of coolant for flush and replace. I was wonder if I just buy any coolant from parts shop or buy 1 gallon of 100% coolant so I will have 2 gallon by mixing it with distill water or should I stick to manual and fork out 2 gallons of 50/50 diluted coolant. It would be insane to think to spend like $45 -$50 just on coolant which is already diluted for my convenience? ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/2 "2011-02-28T16:39:46Z")
You can buy coolant anywhere, as long as it meets Toyota specs, and mix it with an equal amount of distilled water. Interesting that they charge the same price for both. ---
**Author:** ![sam1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@sam1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sam1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/3 "2011-02-28T16:43:14Z")
thanks and thats is the problem. I read specification about their coolant and free of which elements and I can’t find any in a store. Store clerk was kind of smiling and saying if you want exact same specification then you have to buy from toyota. It is interesting Toyota coolant (even 100% coolant) is almost twice as expensive than most expensive off the shelf from a auto store. Not sure if this a way to customer confused and keep buying toyota stuff or it is has some real benefit? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/4 "2011-02-28T17:17:02Z")
There is NOTHING special about Toyota’s coolant. There are only 2-3 coolant plants in the US…And all them make coolant that works well in Toyota’s. Toyota does NOT make coolant. They buy it from one of the 3 manufacturers and put their name on it. As for buying pure coolant or a 50/50 mixture…the 50/50 mixture fairly recent. 10 years (maybe it was 20)…you could only buy 100% coolant. And I’ve NEVER bought the 50/50 mix. Seems like a waste to me…especially since it’s the same price. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/5 "2011-02-28T17:27:17Z")
My Toyota has “Super Long Life”, and the manual says to use that or an equivalent spec, meeting theirs. The first drain is at 96 months or 80,000 miles!!!, (which won’t happen as I will replace it at 40,000 miles), while subsequent changes are recommended at 48 month or 40,000 miles. Why the above specs mystifies me; all I can conclude is that Toyota has faith in its initial fill in a very clean engine, while subsequent changes would be in a dirtier engine and by less competent techs. In any case I keep a gallon of their pr-mixed stuff handy for topping up, which has not been necessary yet in 25,000 miles. ---
**Author:** ![MikeM95831](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@MikeM95831](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeM95831)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/6 "2011-02-28T17:31:05Z")
No doubt this will open a can of worms, but I don’t like Mike’s answer. I refer you to this: > **[Changing engine coolant](https://priuschat.com/threads/30813/)** > > Am changing both coolant loops but so far just the engine. I am using SLLC as in the new model Prius, not the original LLC. SLLC is sold pre-diluted... (All Toyotas use Toyota SLLC. You can listen to the HOAT argument or not. I’ve been using the pre-diluted stuff; since it’s supposed to go 100,000 miles, this seems like a pretty small price to pay. Look at it this way: If my owner’s manual said to use 10W-30, I’m not going to use 5W-50.) ---
**Author:** ![sam1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@sam1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sam1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/7 "2011-02-28T17:56:10Z")
Camry Manual says replace coolant 10 years or 100K miles. If go by the manual then I should wait another 4 years before doing any thing to coolant? Manual does NOT say any thing about transmission fluid? What to do there? ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/8 "2011-02-28T19:04:23Z")
``` [i] according to borochure I should use 50/40 coolant.[/i] And the other 10% is vacuum??? ``` ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/9 "2011-02-28T19:41:46Z")
So where is Toyota’s Antifreeze plant??? Prestone makes an All-Color antifreeze. It’s good for ALL manufacturers. If there was a problem with this…you’d be seeing lawsuits all over the place. I don’t know any…and I looked. > If my owner’s manual said to use 10W-30, I’m not going to use 5W-50.) Your owners manual also says to use Toyota Oil or equivalent. So do you use ANY oil that’s equivalent…or do you pay the $7 for the Toyota oil??? Again…Toyota doesn’t make oil…but they sell it with their name on it. Now their new ATF is different…Toyota is now using the WS oil (World Standard). Very few company’s are making this (at least the last time I checked). The place that does my transmission flush uses the Toyota ATF. Cheaper and easier to find. The auto parts stores don’t carry it…special item only. ---
**Author:** ![MikeM95831](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@MikeM95831](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeM95831)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/10 "2011-02-28T21:55:56Z")
Your oil example would be a good example if that’s what the owner’s manual said. Instead, it gives a minimum service-grade requirement, to which I adhere. I really do think the Prius post I linked to makes sense. Take it or leave it, I guess. I just think this is an additional $20 expense that, if the OP doesn’t accept, will drive him crazy for the next 100k miles. I recently faced the same decision with my Prius, and decided it really wasn’t a big enough expense to where I could tolerate the nagging feeling that I should have used the pink stuff instead. But that’s just me. If my car said to use SM oil and I put in SJ oil instead, it would drive me bananas. But that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/11 "2011-02-28T22:27:06Z")
OH GOD…You can use any HIGH QUALITY Coolant. Toyotie doesnt have anything special in their coolant systems and there is a HUGE chance that they just label another mfg as Toyota. Ethylene Glycol hasnt changed much over the years. If you read the bottle on any High Quality Coolant you will see that you can use it. Im wondering if you have an Aluminum Engine Block and Head in this vehicle. DOesnt matter too much as the coolant mfg’s already made provisions for All Aluminum Engines. Dont sweat this issue too much. If you DO buy 100% coolant then you need to buy some distilled water…TAP WATER wont due…too many dissolved solids in it…it will clog your Rad. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/12 "2011-02-28T22:40:02Z")
The other 10% is the Water of Life which is vomited by a sandworm after it is drowned. It is used to turn somebody into a full Reverend Mother or a man into a Kwisatz Haderach. Of course it can be fatal too. If a Reverend Mother converts the Water of Life, it can then be used to get everybody high. It’s kind of like being exposed to the ghost wind on Darkover (Cottman 4). Don’t leave Earth without it. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/13 "2011-02-28T22:51:57Z")
Personally I would NEVER keep antifreeze in the car for 100k miles. Every other year or 50k miles at the MOST. You’re owners manual for the Prius is different then my wifes Lexus manual and my Toyota 4runners manual…or my GM S-15’s manual or my 90 and 98 Pathfinders manual. All said to use Manufacturers oil or equivalent. The Prius link is fine…but it’s just a forum like this one. As I said…if there was a problem with the Non-Toyota label antifreeze we’d have heard about it. There is NOT problem…Again…show me the Toyota AntiFreeze plant. ---
**Author:** ![sam1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@sam1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sam1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/14 "2011-02-28T22:57:49Z")
Fat fingers, typo! ---
**Author:** ![sam1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@sam1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sam1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/15 "2011-02-28T23:01:33Z")
I think toyota wants us to become crazy and start fights off the web. According to manual, Toyota Camry 2005, wants us to use Toyota super long life coolant, ethylene glycol based non- silicate, non- amine, non-nitrate, and non-borate coolant with long life hybrid organic acid technology (which has low phosphates and organic acids). I could not find any close to that in stores. What are good Coolant brands? ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/16 "2011-02-28T23:12:30Z")
Good Ole Prestone should have one to suit your needs? I use it all the time… Come to think of it…there arent that many brands out there… You dont need anything special…dont sweat this… Buy one that says…“Can be used to replace ANY COLOR Antifreeze” and you will be good to go…I believe Prestone has that written on the front of their gallons these day. ---
**Author:** ![motorking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@motorking](https://community.cartalk.com/u/motorking)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 12:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/17 "2011-03-01T12:13:20Z")
Good morning, I am the tech manager at Prestone coolants. We make coolant suitable for your toyota. It is called Prestone extended life coolant. You need to drain and flush out your current coolant first. Then you can use our concentrated coolant mixed 50/50 with inexpensive distilled water available at any grocery store. Let me know if you need further instructions. [Jay.Buckley@Honeywell.com](mailto:Jay.Buckley@Honeywell.com) ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/18 "2011-03-01T13:57:20Z")
See? ---
**Author:** ![sam1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@sam1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sam1)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/19 "2011-03-01T15:41:12Z")
Thanks Jay: Just wondering why 2 gallons of 50/50 already is more expensive than 1 gallon of concentrated 100% coolant? Basically it is diluted with inexpensive distill water? I saw online 100% is about $15 and 50/50 diluted is about $13. Just marketing? Lazy people pay more? ---
**Author:** ![sam1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@sam1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sam1)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998/20 "2011-03-01T15:43:42Z")
Thanks a lot Honda Blackbird. I knew that Toyota don’t make any fluids but with oil it is much easy as you all you need Oil viscosity numbers. With coolant they add so many things like non- thing or non-that so I got confused plus they make color special red! [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-replacement-in-a-camry/61998.md?page=2)